Pre-degree nursing apprenticeship scheme proposal

The Government is reportedly considering a national apprenticeship scheme for nursing cadets that will be available for HCAs and aspiring nurses that don’t have the necessary academic background to apply directly for a degree in nursing.

This is the second phase of the Dept. of Health’s plan to avert a crisis in nursing recruitment. The first was announcing a shiny new recruitment campaign similar to the one launched recently for teachers, which should be implemented next year.

The Nursing Times reported that “Health Ministers are understood to be worried that, without a specific programme to help those from non-traditional academic brackgrounds, the number of people applying for a degree in nursing could fall dramatically”. The proposed apprencticeship scheme would offer a period of training to prepare entrants for the intense nature of taking a degree in nursing. Some NHS trusts currently offer a cadet scheme, which would be extended, incorporated and rebranded in the proposed apprenticeship scheme.

The scheme is expected to be set up this year.